Progress against extreme poverty in Uganda is being severely undermined by the global food crisis. The ripple effects of COVID-19, the war in Ukraine, drought and poor harvests have caused food prices to soar and livelihoods to dissipate. Ugandan children in poverty are at significant risk of malnutrition which has serious consequences for their growth and development.
Our Ugandan church partners remain committed to serving the physical, spiritual, socio-emotional and cognitive needs of vulnerable children. With your support, they are bringing urgent relief where it’s needed most as well as providing sustainable solutions to fight hunger long-term, such as developing home gardens, improved farming techniques and more.
Watch the latest update below from our church partners in Uganda.
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Thank you for praying for the children, families and local church partners we serve in Uganda.
“I remember when we’d stay hungry all day and sometimes only eat cassava with salt. I used to feel bad. I would wish God could send us money for food and school fees. Now everything has changed; we can even eat fish, rice and meat sometimes,” says Michelle. Read more open_in_new
Compassion’s program is contextualised across countries and communities, as well as age groups.
Compassion assisted children in Uganda typically attend program activities at their local child development centre on Saturdays. Here is an example of what a typical program day looks like for children in Uganda.
9:00am - A time of prayer and devotion.
9:30am - Spiritual lessons, in which children sing songs and learn Bible stories.
10:30am - Break time, when children can play in a safe environment and develop friendships. They are usually provided with a nutritional snack, such as tea, porridge and a bun.
11:00am - Social-emotional lessons ranging from conflict resolution to developing healthy self-esteem and a godly character. Children are taught social and personal skills.
12:00pm - Lunch time where the meal often consists of maize, rice or plantains with beans, peas or beef.
1:00pm - Health lessons, in which children learn practical health and hygiene tips. Example topics include how to prevent malaria and HIV transmission.
2:00pm - Letter writing and career planning. Older children work with local staff to identify their strengths and interests and set goals for their future.
Students can elect vocational training skills, such as carpentry, tailoring, and mat making. Parents are also offered monthly classes on adult literacy and quarterly training on topics such as hygiene, parenting and income generation activities.
of people live in extreme poverty
mothers die from pregnancy related causes per 100,000 births
of children under 5 are experiencing stunted growth
Uganda is part of Africa’s Great Lakes region and is nestled between Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The country has one of the youngest and fastest growing populations in the world and is made up of many different ethnic groups. At least 40 different languages are in use, though English and Swahili are widely spoken.
Many locals continue to deal with the aftermath of the brutal two-decade long civil war which terrorised the country’s north until 2006 and created a severe humanitarian crisis. The war, between rebel group the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), led by Joseph Kony, and government forces, remains Africa’s longest-running armed conflict. During their 26-year reign of terror, the LRA abducted more than 30,000 children, forcing them to become soldiers, weapon carriers, and sex slaves.
It is now known as one of the strongest African economies and a place where poverty is on the retreat. However, the impacts of the global food crisis and COVID-19 pose significant threats to Uganda's economic growth and its recent gains in health development.
Since the LRA was pushed out of Uganda—and into neighbouring countries—in 2006, the majority of the 1.8 million people displaced by their violence have returned home or resettled. However, a generation of young people is scarred by the war. The process of rehabilitating displaced or traumatised children, women and men and reintegrating them back into society is made even more difficult by a lack of resources.
The refugee population in Uganda currently stands at approximately 1.2 million, a figure that has nearly tripled since 2016. This massive influx has made Uganda the largest refugee host in Africa and placed significant strain on social services, amenities and access to employment.
Despite the nation’s progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS over the last two decades, HIV continues to disproportionately affect adolescents, especially girls. Access to medical treatment is improving but is still a struggle for many, especially in rural areas. Poverty affects close to half of all Ugandan children. The highest rates are in rural areas and girls are disproportionately affected.
Presidential elections were held in January 2021 and were preceded by political violence and unrest. President Yoweri Museveni was re-elected and has now led the nation for more than 30 years, having first come to power in 1986 when he led the National Resistance Army in a guerrilla war against then-President Milton Obote.
Meanwhile, local churches are hard at work, reaching out to the poorest children and their families and sharing the love of God.
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